For the study, AAA tested four different cars: a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord, Tesla Model 3 and Toyota Camry. Researchers found that none of the cars’ automatic braking systems were able to detect adults crossing in front of them after dark, which is when 75% of all pedestrian fatalities take place. Instead, all four vehicles struck test dummies at 25 miles per hour without slowing down. In tests that recreated children darting out in front of cars, there was a collision 89% of the time – even when cars spotted the target in advance. In fact, cars that detected the target from 30 feet away only reduced their speed from 20 mph to about 16 mph before hitting the dummy.

Despite the evidence that these systems aren’t functioning the way they should, AAA embraces the use of promising new safety technology even if it’s still being developed. According to AAA director of Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations Greg Brannon, the organization’s plan is “to identify where the gaps exist to help educate consumers and share these findings with manufacturers to work to improve their functionality.”